Gaming media offered a preview of the next big innovation in educational MMORPG

The soon-to-be-launched GoVenture World MMORPG has the potential to be the biggest innovation in the history of entrepreneurship education.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO THE GAMING MEDIA | November 16, 2011 Mathew Georghiou, CEO and Chief Experience Designer, of MediaSpark Inc, a leading innovator in educational games and simulations, is offering the gaming media an opportunity to preview what he believes will be a significant innovation in massively multiplayer online gaming for education. The upcoming GoVenture World MMORPG will enable thousands or millions of players around the world to play the game simultaneously for fun and learning.

The objective of the game is to build a successful business, while competing and collaborating with other businesses to manufacture, acquire, and sell products or services. Players can choose to start manufacturing or retail businesses. They can also choose to be lawyers, protecting intellectual property and mediating disputes. They can be marketers who help other companies promote their products and services. And, they can be investors, providing debt or equity financing to other businesses, or purchasing stock on the GoVenture World stock exchange.

GoVenture World gameplay is a radical departure from existing educational-focused virtual worlds, which tend to be primarily driven by avatar meeting spaces, virtual goods, minigames, and multiple choice interaction. GoVenture World gameplay is designed to keep players engaged in high-level thinking, decision making, and interacting with each other instead of the technology.

Georghiou said, “GoVenture World represents our vision of the future of learning: experiential, social, and gamified. Today, people tend to think of learning as something you do by going to a classroom or sitting with a computer or tablet for hours on end. GoVenture World directly integrates learning into our daily lives through the proven effectiveness of an MMORPG.”

GoVenture World is designed for everyone: teenagers and adults, gamers and non-gamers, people with plenty of free time and those without. It is a deeply social experience that is easy to use and playable on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices for maximum convenience in day-to-day life.

Georghiou added, “Our objective is to change how the world thinks about learning. There’s lots of buzz around ebooks, tablets, smartphones, and gamification in general, but little discussion about how life experience is perhaps the single most powerful way to shape lives.”

GoVenture World is designed to facilitate life experience, and does so first with the two topics that are top of mind in the world today: entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Through GoVenture World, players will directly experience the thrills and challenges of business and how the global economy functions.

“Only through an MMORPG like GoVenture World can we simultaneously expose potentially millions of people to these concepts and deliver authentic learning experiences that would take years and decades to achieve in the real world. It goes far beyond seminars, events, business plan competitions, and other current methods that are useful but not scalable. In fact, we believe GoVenture World has the potential to be the biggest innovation in the history of entrepreneurship education,” said Georghiou.

MediaSpark believes that the life and business experiences delivered through GoVenture World will be so realistic that players will put their game stats on their personal resumes. “Despite the fact that World of Warcraft offers an incredible learning experience, most people don’t put their WoW accomplishments on their resumes because it’s a combat and fantasy-based experience that most employers cannot relate to. But, GoVenture World will provide meaningful experiences that are as realistic as those gained in the real world,” added Georghiou.

GoVenture World will be made available as a private Alpha and public Beta in the coming weeks and months. The GoVenture World video trailer, user guide, and innovations are available on www.GoVentureWorld.com

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About MediaSpark Inc

MediaSpark is an award-winning software development, publishing, and gamification company. MediaSpark applies the power of educational games, simulations, and social networks to the subjects of entrepreneurship, business, money, health, community economic development, and other subjects. MediaSpark has been an industry pioneer for over a decade, designing, producing, and commercializing innovative solutions under its own brands or those of its clients. MediaSpark’s work is global and impacts people in all walks of life.

Mathew Georghiou
CEO and Chief Experience Designer
MediaSpark Inc
Contact information
www.MediaSpark.com (Company website)
www.GoVentureWorld.com (GoVenture World website)

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MediaSpark launches innovative new business simulation and expands marketing in Europe and Southeast Asia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Sydney, NS, Canada | October 18, 2011 – Today, MediaSpark CEO, Mathew Georghiou, made a series of announcements that position the company for future success. “We are excited to be launching our newest innovative product,” said Georghiou. “The market for educational games is seeing rapid growth, and we are moving quickly to capture this opportunity with new products and new business relationships for wider distribution.”

GoVenture Any Business, MediaSpark’s newest simulation, has already received a Gold Omni Award with a perfect 10.0 judging score. Unlike other business simulations, Any Business allows teachers and corporate trainers to create highly-customized, online, head-to-head, multiplayer business simulations for any product in any industry and in any market. Simulations can be designed to model current events, historical successes and failures, or to target specific challenges and learning outcomes.

For example, a teacher can bring a business case study to life for students, while a corporate trainer can model a company’s business and allow its managers to compete against each other in an experience that brings the market to life. Players run virtual businesses while making decisions on pricing, manufacturing, research and development, human resources, marketing, advertising, ethics, and more. During the competition, a virtual management team provides real-time business advice.

GoVenture Any Business joins MediaSpark’s expanding GoVenture product line – one of the original and most widely used series of educational games and simulations in North America (view customer map at www.GoVenture.net/map). According to Georghiou, “Our GoVenture line has been in the making for over a decade and represents what we believe to be the future of learning: experiential, social, and gamified.” He added, “We are pleased to launch another award-winning new product and sign on resellers to represent us around the world.”

EUROPE: MediaSpark also announced that Douglas Stewart EDU, a premiere distributor specializing in educational products, has become the exclusive European distributor of MediaSpark’s award-winning GoVenture educational games and simulations.

Lori Mercier, Managing Director at Douglas Stewart EDU, says, “GoVenture is more than just a new product line for us. We believe it has the potential to truly change the future of our youth, by imparting entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and health and wellness skills. These are keys to economic prosperity for individuals and communities.”

SOUTHEAST ASIA: Money Tree Asia Pacific has signed on to resell GoVenture products in several countries where they are fostering financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills through their various programs supported by corporate and government sponsors. MoneyTree Asia Pacific CEO, Michael Reyes, commented, “We have been searching the world for the best experiential learning products to integrate with our programs, and we found them with GoVenture.”

MediaSpark’s GoVenture software programs deliver highly realistic learning experiences using advanced experiential learning and gaming techniques. Learners gain real experience by being immersed in simulated worlds. Instead of reading about business, they actually run a business – virtually. Instead of thinking about their financial future, they actually live it – in a virtual world that behaves just like the real world.

GoVenture products include award-winning software simulations and applications, mobile games, board games, and soon a massively multiplayer online game. GoVenture impacts people in all walks of life: toddlers, youth, and adults; gifted, at-risk, and special needs; inmates for education and reentry; in developing countries with low literacy levels; and more. An estimated one million people around the world have used GoVenture in homes, schools (elementary, middle, high), universities and colleges, nonprofits, governments, and businesses.

“We will continue to expand both our product line and our marketing reach in the near future,” said Georghiou. “Expect more announcements to be forthcoming shortly.”

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About MediaSpark Inc

MediaSpark is an award-winning software development, publishing, and gamification company. MediaSpark applies the power of educational games, simulations, and social networks to the subjects of entrepreneurship, business, money, health, community economic development, and other subjects. MediaSpark has been an industry pioneer for over a decade, designing, producing, and commercializing innovative solutions under its own brands or those of its clients. MediaSpark’s work is global and impacts people in all walks of life.

Mathew Georghiou
CEO and Chief Experience Designer
MediaSpark Inc
contact information
www.MediaSpark.com (Company website)
www.GoVenture.net (GoVenture products website)

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Douglas Stewart EDU and MediaSpark Deliver Gamified Learning to UK Schools

GoVenture educational games and simulations have the potential to change the hearts and minds of UK youth.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Fleet, UK and Sydney, Canada, Oct 13, 2011 – Douglas Stewart EDU and MediaSpark Inc have teamed up to help UK students gain the entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and health and wellness skills needed for success in an ever-changing global economy.

Douglas Stewart EDU, a premiere distributor specializing in educational products, has become the exclusive European distributor of MediaSpark’s award-winning GoVenture educational games and simulations.

GoVenture is one of the original and most widely used series of educational games and simulations in North America. Over a decade in the making, MediaSpark believes that GoVenture represents the future of learning: experiential, social, and gamified.

“Games and simulations are revolutionizing education for all ages and cultures,” says Mathew Georghiou, CEO of MediaSpark Inc. “We have been delivering these types of learning experiences for over a decade and we are excited to team up with with Douglas Stewart EDU to positively impact the lives of students in the UK.”

Lori Mercier, Managing Director at Douglas Stewart EDU, says, “GoVenture is more than just a new product line for us. We believe it has the potential to truly change the future of our youth, by imparting entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and health and wellness skills. These are keys to economic prosperity for individuals and communities.”

GoVenture software programs deliver highly realistic learning experiences using advanced experiential learning and gaming techniques. Learners gain real experience by being immersed in simulated worlds. Instead of reading about business, they actually run a business – virtually. Instead of thinking about their financial future, they actually live it – in a virtual world that behaves just like the real world.

GoVenture is available for purchase by schools, colleges, and universities in Europe through authorized Douglas Stewart EDU resellers and from MediaSpark in other regions.

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About MediaSpark Inc

MediaSpark is an award-winning software development, publishing, and gamification company. MediaSpark applies the power of educational games, simulations, and social networks to the subjects of entrepreneurship, business, money, health, community economic development, and other subjects. MediaSpark has been an industry pioneer for over a decade, designing, producing, and commercializing innovative solutions under its own brands or those of its clients. MediaSpark’s work is global and impacts people in all walks of life.

Mathew Georghiou
CEO and Chief Experience Designer
MediaSpark Inc
contact information
www.MediaSpark.com (Company website)
www.GoVenture.net (GoVenture products website)

About Douglas Stewart EDU Ltd

Douglas Stewart EDU Ltd is a specialist distributor of computer products into the education and charity markets. As part of The Douglas Stewart Company based in the US with offices in Canada and the UK, globally we have more than 55 years of experience in sales, marketing and distribution of products to education resellers as well as their end-users. Based in Hampshire, UK with distribution facilities in the UK and mainland Europe, Douglas Stewart EDU sells through education and charity focused resellers in over 35 countries throughout Europe.
Lori Mercier, Managing Director
Douglas Stewart EDU
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 612 806
Email: lmercier@dstewart.eu
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DS_EDU

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MediaSpark’s new simulation software is the next wave in eLearning and training

Sydney, Nova Scotia, April 13, 2004 — MediaSpark Inc. today announced the launch of its GoVenture simulation software designed to provide businesses with the next wave in eLearning and job-training capabilities. The award-winning business simulation software creates life-like, risk-free business scenarios requiring real solutions thereby making learning faster, more fun, and more effective than ever before.

In the same way that pilots train on flight simulators to gain crucial experience through trial and error in a safe, virtual setting, MediaSpark’s interactive business simulations put employees “in the driver’s seat” to solve real world business problems without the associated real world risks or costs.

Employees can interact with “virtual” customers, coworkers, managers, partners or competitors. Anyone can become the CEO of a virtual business, a stockbroker trading on a virtual exchange, an entrepreneur running a startup company or a sales manager interacting with virtual customers. Simulation also lets novice investors look 50 years into their financial future for improved financial decision-making.

Nearly any task, procedure, process or skill can be simulated to rapidly accelerate learning and dramatically improve return on investment.

Gartner Research anticipates that simulation will be the “killer application” for eLearning, significantly improving participation and completion rates. Brandon Hall predicts that the eLearning simulation market in the U.S. will soar by over 10,000% to exceed $37 billion (US) by 2011.

“We’ve created what are truly the most experiential and compelling learning scenarios available,” said MediaSpark CEO Mathew Georghiou. “Employees will gain vast amounts of experience on a short timeline. The challenges are business-focused and the results are very realistic.”

MediaSpark is targeting the corporate, franchise and financial sectors with its new GoVenture software products.

The new GoVenture Small Business simulation lets users start and run a virtual business, make day-to-day decisions faced by a typical entrepreneur. The program is ideal for small business training and entrepreneurship.

MediaSpark also anticipates that franchisers will use GoVenture Small Business to train managers, potential franchisees and front line employees.

The new GoVenture Personal Finance simulation can provide a virtual snapshot of anyone’s financial life that spans up to 50 years into the future. Pay bills, purchase assets, make investments, and monitor the economy while tackling financial and retirement goals. GoVenture Personal Finance is designed to show users how to manage and invest their money wisely, thanks to a realistic virtual setting that is unprecedented in the personal finance market.

Other GoVenture simulations include GoVenture Entrepreneur, GoVenture Stock Market and GoVenture Point of Sale.

GoVenture products are currently used throughout North America and around the world in schools (K-12, University, College, and Vocational), homes, career centres, government, non-profit organizations and companies.

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VIDEO: MediaSpark CEO describes GoVenture live on CP24 Homepage

Toronto, Ontario, May 26, 2004 — MediaSpark CEO, Mathew Georghiou, demonstrates GoVenture simulations on www.cp24.com which aired live today on CityTV and repeated on CP24 and Canadian Learning Television.

MediaSpark wins again with new software products. Company changing the way the world learns.

Sydney, Nova Scotia, June 9, 2004 — MediaSpark Inc., a Canadian software development company, continues its award-winning tradition by capturing three more national and international awards at media festivals recently held in the US and Canada.

The recently launched GoVenture Small Business and GoVenture Personal Finance software simulations both won bronze awards in the Education category at the Omni Intermedia Awards in Lexington, Kentucky.

GoVenture Small Business also received an Award of Excellence for Best Interactive, Instructional CD-ROM, by the Association for Media and Technology in Education in Canada (AMTEC) 2004 conference in Sudbury, Ontario.

MediaSpark President and CEO Mathew Georghiou said, “These awards are a reflection of the skill and dedication of our team as we strive to become the world’s premier business simulation company, developing products that improve the speed and effectiveness with which people gain business and life skills.”

MediaSpark has won awards for the company, its products, and newsletter and is a pioneer and emerging world leader in the fast growing eLearning simulation industry, projected to grow 10,000% to $37 billion by 2011.

GoVenture Small Business is a simulation that lets users start and run a virtual business, make day-to-day decisions faced by a typical entrepreneur. The program is ideal for small business training and entrepreneurship education in schools, business and career centers, and franchisors trying to improve the success of new or faltering franchises.

GoVenture Personal Finance is a simulation that provides a virtual snapshot of anyone’s financial life that spans up to 50 years into the future. Pay bills, purchase assets, make investments, and monitor the economy while tackling financial and retirement goals. GoVenture Personal Finance is designed to show users how to manage and invest their money wisely, thanks to a realistic virtual setting that is unprecedented in the personal finance market.

Both products are currently shipped on a CD-ROM and supported by comprehensive print materials and the GoVenture.NETwork website at www.goventure.net

GoVenture products are currently used throughout North America and around the world in schools (K-12, University, College, and Vocational), homes, career centers, government, non-profit organizations and companies.

About OMNI Awards

The Omni Intermedia Awards recognizes outstanding production, design and content in the converging fields of television, film, video, internet, interactive media and 3D animation. In order to judge the entries, the Omni Awards brings together a wide variety of talented professionals working for highly respected companies. Omni Intermedia Awards have been presented to many different companies, including Dreamworks SKG, Warner Brothers, CNN, PBS, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Learning Channel, Eastman Kodak, Ford, Mtv, VH1, Telemundo, U.S. Army, and Canon USA.

About AMTEC Awards

The Association for Media and Technology in Education in Canada (AMTEC) presents a national showcase for educational media, recognizing outstanding examples of educational TV, film and interactive multimedia as part of the AMTEC Conference held each year. Awards are presented for the best video, film, slide, audio and multimedia productions. The awards, as well as clips from winning productions, are presented at the Media Festival ceremonies held this year on May 28 in Sudbury, Ontario.

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MediaSpark launches software for infants, proving you are never too young to start learning on a computer

Sydney, Nova Scotia, February 7, 2005 — MediaSpark Inc., an educational software development and publishing company – announced the launch of the GoVenture MyFirst series of software programs for children ages zero and up.

GoVenture MyFirst software programs are perfect for infants who are old enough to play on a keyboard but too young to use a mouse. They provide hours of fun and laughter and can help any child learn the basics of shapes, colors, numbers, letters, animals, and more.

Unlike other educational software on the market, GoVenture MyFirst software programs are designed specifically for young children, ages zero and up, who may not have mastered the use of the mouse or keyboard. All programs advance by the click of any button (mouse or keyboard), so young children are able to use the software with little or no assistance.

“When we were testing the MyFirst software, I was amazed at watching my son and his friends at only eight months old using the computer,” said MediaSpark Product Manager Donna Steele. “The shouts of joy and the learning value of the activity convinced me this software would be a big hit.”

With GoVenture MyFirst, parents can spend more quality time with their child in an activity that will provide a head start in learning.

GoVenture MyFirst software programs are designed as computer versions of children’s flipbooks. They allow the very young to “play computer” with a parent or on their own for as long as they want. The program loops for endless enjoyment – just hit any button to continue. Parents can even add their child’s name or a personal message to display on screen. GoVenture MyFirst programs are not only entertaining. They are effective educational tools which help children develop important cognitive and motor skills.

Play safe. Start the program up and a child can play repeatedly. Meanwhile, desktop and other programs remain safe and out of easy reach, because GoVenture MyFirst programs play in full screen mode.

“The MyFirst series rounds out our product offering,” says MediaSpark CEO, Mathew Georghiou. “The new GoVenture MyFirst series, combined with our successful award-winning GoVenture Simulation series enables us to offer educational products for all ages – young and old.

The MyFirst series was originally produced in 1997 under the MyFirst Computer Book name. These programs became popular, eventually finding their way into tens of thousands of homes and schools in over 100 countries. MediaSpark has since created new editions under the GoVenture brand to take advantage of the latest computer advancements to help meet the overwhelming demand for high quality software for very young children.

Products can be tried and purchased at www.goventure.net or by calling 1-800-331-2282.

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MediaSpark adds to GoVenture product line

Sydney, Nova Scotia, June 29, 2005 — MediaSpark Inc., an educational software development and publishing company, announced the addition of two new products to its award-winning GoVenture line of educational games and simulations: GoVenture Lemonade Stand and GoVenture Financial Literacy.

GoVenture Lemonade Stand is an easy-to-use program that introduces you to the experience of running your own virtual lemonade stand business. It’s the perfect first step for children or even adults who need to start with the basics of running a business. It also offers the opportunity to apply concepts in other subjects such as mathematics, finance, career, or general life skills in a fun business setting.

GoVenture Financial Literacy is a realistic software simulation designed to help youth and adults learn about basic personal money management decisions in a fun and educational manner. Financial Literacy introduces you to basic financial concepts such as cash flow, banking, loans, investments, credit, and more by letting you live your life inside the simulation. Will you be rich or poor in the future? Play GoVenture Financial Literacy and find out!

“GoVenture Lemonade Stand and Financial Literacy round out our product line by offering options for those who need a more introductory, shorter, and less comprehensive simulation experience,” said MediaSpark CEO Mathew Georghiou.

The success of GoVenture has positioned MediaSpark as an emerging world leader in the fast-growing eLearning simulation industry – expected by some to grow 10,000 per cent to $37 billion by 2011. MediaSpark has won numerous awards for the company, its products, and newsletter.

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MediaSpark Launches Software that Allows Anyone to Create Educational Games and Simulations

Sydney, Nova Scotia, July 8, 2005 — MediaSpark Inc., an educational software development and publishing company, known for its award-winning line of educational games and simulations, announced the launch of a groundbreaking new product: GoVenture Simulation Designer. Now, anyone can create their own games and simulations in minutes.

GoVenture Simulation Designer is an easy-to-use software program that enables anyone to build their own educational games and simulations, without programming or technical expertise. Using simple point-and-click, games and sophisticated branching simulations can be created, including text, graphics, animation, audio, video, and learner interaction.

For example, instead of documenting a sales script or customer service procedure, GoVenture Simulation Designer can be used to create a virtual role-playing exercise, making learning much more effective and engaging. It can be used to design a trivia game, test procedure, product demonstration, or any other experience to bring learning to life.

Organizations can better train their employees, teachers can enhance their courses, and businesses can build and sell new educational products using GoVenture Simulation Designer.

MediaSpark CEO Mathew Georghiou added, “Most teachers and trainers would never even consider creating their own software games and simulations because it requires a high level of technical expertise. GoVenture Simulation Designer is a groundbreaking product that makes the process quick and easy, and consequently has the potential to accelerate the mainstream adoption of games and simulations for education. This is growing to be a multibillion-dollar market and we continue to be a company driving innovation in the industry.”

The success of GoVenture has positioned MediaSpark as an emerging world leader in the fast-growing eLearning simulation industry – expected by some to grow 10,000 per cent to $37 billion by 2011. MediaSpark has won numerous awards for the company, its products, and newsletter.

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MediaSpark Launches “Unique” Entrepreneur Board Game

Sydney, Nova Scotia, February 3, 2006 — MediaSpark Inc., an educational software development and publishing company, known for its award-winning GoVenture line of educational games and simulations, announced the launch of a one-of-a-kind board game designed specifically for gaining entrepreneurship skills in a fun, educational context.

The GoVenture Entrepreneur Board Game combines the best of your favorite board games into a business context where you run your own business and compete, collaborate, and negotiate with other players.

MediaSpark CEO, Mathew Georghiou, added, “While most people are familiar with the ‘opoly’ style board games designed primarily for kids, we were surprised to discover that a true entrepreneurship board game that is realistic and attractive to both youth and adults did not exist. So, we leveraged the success of our award-winning software simulations to develop an innovative group learning experience in the form of a board game that is fun and educational.”

Designed for ages 12 to adult, activities include:

• Buying, Pricing, and Selling Products (called “Gwidgets”)
• Managing Employees
• Paying Expenses
• Managing Cash Flow
• Investing in Product Quality and Marketing (Brand)
• Negotiating with other players
• Interacting with other players through question and answer, drawing, charades, trivia, word puzzles, and more.
• Balancing work and life
• Preparation of Balance Sheet,
• Profit and Loss statements, Accounting General Journal and General Ledger (optional)
• and more.

The GoVenture Entrepreneur Board Game sells for $49 for the Home version, $129 for the Educational version, and can be purchased directly from MediaSpark at www.goventure.net

The success of GoVenture has positioned MediaSpark as an emerging world leader in the fast-growing eLearning simulation industry – expected by some to grow 10,000 per cent to $37 billion by 2011. MediaSpark has won numerous awards for the company, its products, and newsletter.

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